The Corona virus is sweeping its way around the world and its impact is only beginning to be visible. Clearly, it's arrival is changing everything. The news is full of stories about the need to reduce social contact, which for educational organisations, really does negatively impact long-term viability, not to mention the impact on learning opportunities. Sadly, most educational organisations are now scrambling to identify the options they have in front of them to deal with these two major challenges.
In the 1990's, I wrote a paper titled Scenario Planning in Higher Education. Several years ago, I wrote an update on that subject. Both of these papers are listed on Research Gate. When I wrote these, I was not referencing anything like the Corona Virus, but I was referencing the reality that Higher Educational institutions rarely take the time to identify and develop potential solutions to problems (from any source) that may arise and impact them. It is sad that the reality of the Corona Virus might be the impetus to do Scenario Planning, but it would be even sadder if organisations (from all sectors and all sizes and all geographies) do not come to the realisation that Scenario Planning is crucial for organisations that want to stay in business (and realise their potential).
Dr. James B Rieley
www.rieley.com
Hi! I do agree that Higher Education Institutions should have contingency plans to stand firm in any kind of sudden or unavoidable circumstances as it definitely has huge impacts on the learners present and future lives. Thanks.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/03/11/live-updates-latest-news-coronavirus-and-higher-education
https://www.qs.com/how-to-mitigate-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-international-student-recruitment/
Remote edu.
https://www.ft.com/content/bae2a4b2-5fa1-11ea-b0ab-339c2307bcd4
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/07/health/universities-coronavirus-impact/index.html
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/universities-may-have-close-toprevent-spread-coronavirus
I Will Survive, Coronavirus version for teachers going online:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCe5PaeAeew
Dear Dr. Rieley!
COVID-19 is about to strengthen the links between industry and universities:
Nick Hillman (2020). "Covid-19 could be a curse for graduates but a boon for universities - A post-coronavirus recession could drive higher university enrollment and enhance human capital," Times Higher Education, 2 April 2020, Available at:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/covid-19-could-be-curse-graduates-boon-universities
Gregory C. Fisher (2020). "COVID-19 Response Special Collection" Business Horizons, Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. Available at: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/business-horizons/editors-choice/covid-19-response-special-collection
It can be stated that to be able to eliminate potential catastrophic business impact on world economy, universities must enhance their links to industries. Only in this manner new innovations might spur new economic growth and related jobs around the world:
Goolam Mohamedbhai (2020). "COVID-19: What consequences for higher education?" 9 April 2020, Citation: " Each country should set up a task force on higher education under the leadership of the relevant ministry to survey the situation, suggest immediate and short-term measures and be ready to effect redress when the crisis is over." Copyright 2020 University World News Available at: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200407064850279
Yours sincerely, Bulcsu Szekely
COVID-19 is a perfect storm that will permanently alter the landscape of education in local and global contexts. This will result in fundamental paradigm shift in online education (teaching, research and community service). The challenges many universities will face include infrastructure, curricula development and pedagogical aspects of online teaching. Universities need to develop and implement appropriate strategies to suit their local context-specific needs. It is an existential problem that needs different levels of collaborative working as there may be no one-size-fit-all solution.
Onuegbu, I agree with you completely. The question that needs consideration is, "how will these needed strategies be developed?" My concern is that if the strategies that are developed are done so in the same manner as previous strategies have been developed, we will, as A. Einstein alluded to, simply get the same level of results as in the past. We need to ensure that strategies to meet these new challenges take into consideration both any potential scenarios that might arise in the future, and contingencies that will either mitigate the impact of future problems, or remove them from becoming problematic. Our current capabilities to develop this type of strategy is low, as historically, our demonstrated strategic plan competency has been around producing a plan that is multi-colour with disconnected goals and metrics, and printed on nice shiny paper.
There is a dramatic change in the entire education system in the world due to corona-19. The present scenario demands the online education which is a challenge for the persons involved in the education system .
the changes need to be considered in many aspects like what Onuegbu Ugwu said especially for developing country and rural area. Thank you @dr James for suggestion idea and article. i'm looking forward for the views of scenario plan.
I think we all are looking forward to a scenario plan. Having said that, which institution will actually put one together, and then share it? As more days pass, it seems that many institutions are simply sliding into an operational environment in which all classes will be held virtually. Clearly that is an option, but it also reflects a quick-fix, reactive thinking mentality. This is not a scenario that will be helpful over time. Higher education, just like business and governments, need to get focused on how we will deal with fundamental problems BEFORE they occur instead of just trying to deal with them after they have wreaked havoc on everyone.
Online teaching and learning is the way to go during this pandemic. However, effectively teaching and assessing practical courses with online teaching mode is a great challenge because as much as the instructor may be able to record the demostration but evaluating students competence in that procedure/skill virtually might be a challenge. This may require lot of resources and technical skills.
Scenario planning @ Dr James, thank you for your insights. I think this pandemic is a wake-up call for all involved in Higher education
A wake-up call indeed. Of course the question is, "now that we are 'awake,' what will we actually do differently so that our institutions and suppliers can survive, and our student customers learn and thrive?
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